An Alternative Way to Determine Absorption Coefficients in Highly Transparent Solids: Theory

Abstract

The development of highly transparent solids requires improved methods to measure very low absorption coefficients at laser wavelengths. We have calculated the temperature profiles in the solid and the temperature and pressure profiles in the gas when a laser beam passes through a weakly absorbing solid which is surrounded by a confined and non-absorbing gas. Our calculations suggest that sufficient heat transfers from the solid to the gas to produce a detectable pressure rise in the gas.